2/18/13

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (8.5 /10 Pandas)



Today I have decided to review for you one of my favorite books that I have found recently, it is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This book is categorized as an adult fantasy novel. Although I have to say that I would say it is much more multifaceted than that and it can also be interesting for a variety of age groups.

            In terms of plot the story surrounds two main characters named Celia and Marco. They are living their lives alongside their mentors who are famous magicians. Also when they are young their lives are entwined together through a dangerous competition. Although they have never met all that they know is that the other person is the enemy and at one point they will meet and have to duel. When the children finally grow up through connections and some help, they form The Night Circus, it is mesmerizing and constantly changing and adapting to the tastes of the entertainers. The most mysterious part of all is that this circus appears and disappears in a location as if they never even existed.
            In terms of setting it is mainly set in London in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Although the most important part is that as the story develops the location develops along with it and side characters are influenced by the circus as it makes its progression through the various towns. One of my favorite locations is in a back country town in the United States in a field at the edge of a farming property. The details that are used describe the area as very open and that the circus appeared out of nowhere in the middle of a field. Also as the story develops the locations become as dark as the Night Circus itself.
            The characters are well developed and they create an emotional connection that ties the whole story together. When one character goes through a troubling time you feel like you are going through it with them. Also you will find some characters that you despise but whether you know it or not the author’s descriptions of them will want you to discover their story. The characters are well rounded. They all have their flaws and that just makes them all the more relatable in the long run. The two characters that are going to create the most emotional response in my opinion are Celia and Marco. As their relationship through the competition and trying to top the other develops, their overall chemistry towards each other develops as well. The interactions between the two may seem drawn out at times but overall it makes the point known.
            Some of the cons that I have with this particular novel are that at certain points the author will pull you from the story to talk about observations that a bystander is making during the development and progression of The Night Circus. It can quite jarring at times and make it difficult to reestablish yourself in the story. Another issue I have is that sometimes the author takes too long to describe one particular element of the story. Also at times the conversations seem one sided and kind of predictable based on the individual personalities of the characters.
            Overall I find this book to be an enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it to other people who enjoy a good fantasy novel. I give it a rating of 8.5 out of 10 pandas. I hope that you check this book out and if you do I want  to hear your opinions in the comments.

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